ROCKERS The Futureheads treated Tyneside college students to an intimate gig and music masterclass.

The four-piece popped into Newcastle College’s multimillion pound Performance Academy this week not only to perform but to provide an insight into the music industry.

Around 200 School of Creative Industries students gathered for the special visit which saw the Sunderland band play a selection of favourite hits mixed with tracks from their current a cappella album, Rant.

Fresh from a stint of summer festival dates across the country, The Futureheads provided some sound words of advice on how to start a band and how to get noticed in the industry, having broken out of the North East scene to become one of the best known groups on the indie circuit.

The appearance also gave the band a chance to encourage students to get involved in the upcoming annual Split Festival, which is being held in Sunderland from Friday until Sunday.

Front man Barry Hyde welcomed demos from budding musicians among the audience and said he hoped to see some of the students on stage at the festival next year.

David Craig, bassist and backing singer, added: “There have been a number of great North East acts that have broken through in recent years, including bands like Mercury Music Prize nominated Field Music and Frankie and the Heartstrings, and there’s no reason why students from Newcastle College can’t make it.

“There is a lot of talent here in the region, which we hope to see at Split Festival in the near future.”

The Futureheads were the latest in a string of top musicians who have visited the college in recent months, including JLS, local indie rockers Maximo Park and most recently Britain’s Got Talent finalists Loveable Rogues.

Max Weedon, section manager for music at Newcastle College, said: “We are grateful that so many excellent artists are willing to give something back to our aspiring musicians.

“We have a strong focus on supporting original music, and bands like The Futureheads demonstrate that with dedication and creativity you can have a career in the music industry.”

:: Tickets for Split Festival are on sale at £40 for a weekend ticket and £25 per day.